The Acceptance
She didn't want to leave me. I got that. I was "kind" to her after she had lived such an unmerciful life. But if she died again, there was no more Tenseiga or Meido-seki to bring her back. That's it. She would be gone.
With that last thought I blurted out something I didn't mean to.
"I'm not losing you again."
She seemed to shrink a little after that. Her eyes puffed up as if she were going to cry.
I walked over to her and knelt down. She didn't expect it but I held her, with both arms. Her body was small, but she embraced back and sobbed in my mokomoko*.
"You will be safe." I assured her. Inuyasha's group will be there, even more protection.
She seemed to have gotten over her defiance and surrendered to the decision. She lifted her head up.
I felt a tug of regret. I wanted so badly in that instance to reverse my decision, to have Rin stay.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, it is enough that I got to be with you."
Instantly I thought of Kagura.
In that field of flowers.
Saying something similar.
The fact that Tenseiga couldn't save her.
Her smile.
Her body decomposing in the wind.
No. No. This had to be done. My Rin will be safe. I won't lose her again.